Christmas and New Year Getaways on the Rise

• Millions of people in the UK are expected to travel overseas during the Christmas and New Year period (20th December – 2nd January)
• Sunday, 22nd December, is forecasted to be the busiest day for departures, and Christmas Day is expected to be the quietest.

ABTA predicts a surge in overseas travel during the festive season, particularly among families with young children. Popular destinations for those seeking winter sun include the Canary Islands, Southern Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Dubai. Meanwhile, ski resorts in France, Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia are favored by those desiring a traditional snowy Christmas experience.

Major airports are reporting high departure numbers, with Stansted, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and Heathrow expecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.

Scottish airports, especially Edinburgh, are also poised for a busy season.

In addition to air travel, many people will cross the English Channel by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, encourages travelers to plan and seek advice from ABTA members to ensure a smooth journey. ABTA provides additional travel tips and advice on its website.